Radioactive Isotopes in Industry

Americum-241
Used in many ionizing type smoke detectors
Used to measure levels of toxic lead in dried paint samples
Used to ensure uniform thickness in rolling processes, such as steel and paper production
Used to help determine where oil wells should be drilled
Used as portable Gamma Ray source

Cadmium-109
Used to analyze metal alloys
Used in nicad (nickle and cadmium) for battery production
Used in pigments, coatings and plating, manufacture of plastic products, and alloys

Calcium-47
Important aid to biomedical researchers studying the cellular functions of bone formation in mammals, bone metabolism problems or to diagnose calcium disorders

Californium-252
Used to inspect airline luggage for hidden explosives
Used to gauge moisture content of soil in the road construction and building industries
Used to measure the moisture of materials stored in soils
Used as a neutron source to identify gold and silver ores through a technique known as neutron activation

Carbon-14
Used in research to ensure that drugs are metabolized without forming harmful by-products
Used in biological research, agriculture, pollution control, and archeology
Used breath tests to detect the ulcer-causing bacteria

Cesium-137
Used in the treatment of cancerous tumors
Used to measure patient dosages of radioactive pharmaceuticals
Used in industrial gauges to measure and control the liquid flow in oil pipelines
Used to ensure the correct fill level for packages of food, drugs, and other products
Used to measure the thickness of materials, such as paper, photographic film, or sheets of metal
Used for calibration of radiation-detection equipment

Chromium-51
Used in research in red blood cell survival studies
Used as a tracer in studies on blood
Used to study the flow of blood into and out of a fetus

Cobalt-57
Used as a tracer to diagnose pernicious anemia
Used to manufacture standards and sources for calibration of radiometric equipment and medical gamma-cameras

Cobalt-60
Produced in Nuclear Power Plants
Used as a tracer for cobalt in chemical reactions
Used in Cobalt Therapy
Used to sterilize equipment
Used as a source in industrial radiography
Used in insect sterilization
Used as a source for food and blood irradiation
Used to sterilize surgical instruments
Used to improve the safety and reliability of industrial fuel oil burners
Used in cancer treatment, food irradiation, thickness gauges, and radiography

Copper-67
Used with monoclonal antibodies into a cancer patient to help antibodies bind to and destroy tumors
Used to prepare radio-pharmaceuticals designed to treat cancer

Curium-244
Used primarily for basic scientific research
Used in mining to analyze material excavated from drilling operations
Used as power sources for space and medical practices

Gallium-67
Used to assist in the diagnosis of certain types of cancer

Iodine-123
Used in the diagnosis of thyroid disorders and other metabolic disorders

Iodine-125
Used in the diagnosis of thyroid disorders
Used in biomedical research

UNEDITED (copied)

Iodine-129
Used in in-vitro diagnostic testing laboratories
Used in the monitoring and effects of man-made nuclear fission decay products

Iodine-131
Used to treat thyroid disorders

Iridium-192
Used to test weld integrity in boilers, pipes, and aircraft parts
Used in brachytherapy

Iron-55
Used to analyze electroplating solutions
Used to detect the presence of Sulphur in the air

Krypton-85
Used in arc discharge lamps and indicator lights in appliances
Used to gauge the thickness of thin plastics, coatings, sheet metal, rubber, textiles and paper
Used to measure dust and pollutant levels
Used to test for leaks in semiconductors
Used in cold-cathode voltage regulator electron tubes
Used to neutralize electrostatically charged aerosols from nebulization, combustion, or powder dispersion

Nickel-63
Used to detect explosive devices
Used in voltage regulators and surge protectors
Used in electron capture for gas chromatography

Phosphorus-32
Used in molecular biology and genetics research
Used to treat cancer or related problems

Phosphorus-33
Used in molecular biology and genetics research
Used in DNA sequencing
Used to label nucleotides

Plutonium-238
Used to power NASA spacecraft
Used as heat source in fuel fabrication

Polonium-210
Made in a nuclear reactor
Used to reduce static charge in photographic film
Used as a poison

Promethium-147
Used in portable X-ray devices
Used in electric blanket thermostats
Used to gauge thickness of coatings, thin plastics, thin sheet metal, rubber, textile and paper
Used in nuclear batteries

Radium-226
Used with beryllium as a neutron source
Used to make lighting rods more effective
Used to produce radon for cancer treatment

Selenium-75
Used in protein studies in life science research
Used in non-destructive testing of thinner-walled steel surfaces

Sodium-24
Used to locate leaks in industrial pipelines, and in oil well studies
Used in medicine, physical sciences and engineering to trace the flow of either sodium or other liquids by using radiation detectors

Strontium-85
Used to study bone formation and metabolism
Used as a cancer therapeutic to alleviate bone pain

Sulphur-35
Used in survey meters by schools, the military and emergency management
Used in cigarette manufacturing sensors and medical treatment
Used in research application as a tracer

Technetium-99m
Used in genetics and molecular biology research
Used in radioactive pharmaceutical for diagnostic studies in nuclear medicine

Thallium-201
Used in nuclear medicine from nuclear cardiology and tumor detection.

Thallium-204
Used in the measure of dust and pollutant levels in manufactures

Thorium-229
Used to lengthen the life of fluorescent lights

Throium-230
Used in coloring for colored glazes and glassware

Tritium
Used in biomedical research
Used in life science and drug metabolism studies
Used in self-luminous aircraft, commercial exit signs, for luminous dials, gauges, wrist watches, luminous paint
Used for geological prospecting and hydrology.

Uranium-234
Used in dental fixtures to provide a natural color
Used to convert to plutonium-239 for use as a fuel in nuclear reactors

Uranium-235
Used for nuclear power plants and naval nuclear propulsion systems
Used to produce fluorescent glassware, colored glazes, and wall tiles

Xenon-133
Used in nuclear medicine for lung ventilation and blood flow studies
Used to find and treat certain diseases